'House of the Dragon' Season 3 Episode 5 Explained: What Happened to Alicent & Helaena?

The fifth episode of Season 3 of House of the Dragon is the calm before the storm. The characters face the consequences of their decisions, and the series' creators move further away from George R.R. Martin's source material.

We recap the events in King's Landing, the Riverlands, Harrenhal, and Rooks' Rest and highlight the significant departures from Fire & Blood.

What Happened in King's Landing?

Rhaenyra ascends to the Iron Throne, but her power remains fragile. Daemon investigates the murders of the Gold Cloaks, guards loyal to Rhaenyra. It turns out that Ormund Hightower, who secretly crowned Daeron, Alicent's youngest son, is behind the murders.

At the end of the episode, Daemon finds Luthor Largent and his men brutally murdered and seated around a table.

Alicent and Helaena attempt to escape the Red Keep – they find a secret passage, but it is walled up. Frightened by a rat, Helaena drops her only torch, leaving the women in complete darkness.

What Happened in Riverlands?

Led by Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower, the Green Army wages an unsuccessful guerrilla war against the Riverlands and the North. Weary of life, Cole prepares for a hopeless battle. Gwayne, however, decides not to face certain death and abandons his commander.

What Happened in Harrenhal?

Wounded and without his dragon, Vhagar, Aemond takes refuge in Harrenhal under the protection of the witch, Alys Rivers. Upon learning that Rhaenyra has taken King's Landing, he falls into despair.

What Happened in Rook's Rest?

Aegon and Larys Strong stop at Rook's Rest, where they are surprised by the return of Tyland Lannister, who was thought to be dead after the Battle of the Gullet.

Tyland knows where the crown gold is hidden – this gold is essential for Rhaenyra's rule.

What Are the Differences From the Original Book?

By Episode 5, the series had almost completely drifted away from George R.R. Martin's novel Fire and Blood. In the novel, Tyland remained in the Red Keep, where Rhaenyra's supporters captured and tortured him to reveal the location of the crown's gold.

The screenwriters invented the Alicent and Helaena storyline for the sake of suspense. In the novel, Helaena becomes distraught after her son's death and isolates herself in her chambers, while Alicent remains under arrest in the castle.

In the book, Ormund Hightower didn't orchestrate the massacre of the Gold Cloaks, and Luthor Largent died during an uprising.

Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower led the army together until they met the superior forces of the Blacks in the battle known as the Butcher's Ball.